RFI-protected ultrasound probe
First Claim
1. An electromagnetically protected ultrasound transducer, comprising:
- a transducer housing including an imaging sensor, an outer acoustic lens, a cable interconnect and an internal metal shield which surrounds the sensor and cable interconnect; and
a cable including electrical conductors and electromagnetic cable shielding, the electrical conductors electrically connected to the cable interconnect at a first end, and the electrical conductors and the cable shielding are electrically connected to a transducer connector at a second end, wherein the cable shielding is electrically connected to earth ground via at least a shield surrounding the transducer connector;
wherein further included in the transducer housing is a thin electromagnetic shield, internal to the outer acoustic lens, and electrically connected to one of the internal metal shield and cable shielding such that all elements inside a boundary formed by the transducer housing and outer acoustic lens are substantially electromagnetically protected from external electromagnetic radiation, and that the electromagnetically protected transducer maintains its flexibility for its intended purpose.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An ultrasound imaging system including an electromagnetically protected ultrasound TEE probe, a display for displaying ultrasound images, a housing including a transducer connector including at least one connection and a computer for processing electrical signals representative of received ultrasound echoes. The TEE probe includes a probe housing including an imaging sensor, an outer acoustic lens, a cable interconnect and an internal metal shield which surrounds the sensor and cable interconnect, and a cable including electrical conductors and electromagnetic cable shielding, the electrical conductors electrically connected to the cable interconnect at a first end, and the electrical conductors and the cable shielding are electrically connected to a transducer connector at a second end.
50 Citations
28 Claims
-
1. An electromagnetically protected ultrasound transducer, comprising:
-
a transducer housing including an imaging sensor, an outer acoustic lens, a cable interconnect and an internal metal shield which surrounds the sensor and cable interconnect; and
a cable including electrical conductors and electromagnetic cable shielding, the electrical conductors electrically connected to the cable interconnect at a first end, and the electrical conductors and the cable shielding are electrically connected to a transducer connector at a second end, wherein the cable shielding is electrically connected to earth ground via at least a shield surrounding the transducer connector;
wherein further included in the transducer housing is a thin electromagnetic shield, internal to the outer acoustic lens, and electrically connected to one of the internal metal shield and cable shielding such that all elements inside a boundary formed by the transducer housing and outer acoustic lens are substantially electromagnetically protected from external electromagnetic radiation, and that the electromagnetically protected transducer maintains its flexibility for its intended purpose. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. An electromagnetically protected ultrasound Transesophageal echocardiograph (TEE) probe, comprising:
-
a probe housing including an imaging sensor, an outer acoustic lens, a cable interconnect and an internal metal shield which surrounds the sensor and cable interconnect; and
a cable including electrical conductors and electromagnetic cable shielding, the electrical conductors electrically connected to the cable interconnect at a first end, and the electrical conductors and the cable shielding are electrically connected to a transducer connector at a second end, wherein the cable shielding is electrically connected to earth ground via at least a shield surrounding the transducer connector;
wherein the internal metal shield is electrically connected to the cable shielding such that all elements inside a boundary formed by the transducer housing and outer acoustic lens are substantially electromagnetically, protected and flexibility of the TEE probe, including any endoscopic portion, is maintained as required for effective operation. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
-
-
26. An ultrasound imaging system comprising an electromagnetically protected ultrasound transducer, a display for displaying ultrasound images, a housing including a transducer connector including at least one connection for connecting to earth ground and a computer for processing electrical signals representative of received ultrasound echoes, wherein the ultrasound transducer comprises:
-
a transducer housing including an imaging sensor, an outer acoustic lens, a cable interconnect and an internal metal shield which surrounds the sensor and cable interconnect; and
a cable including electrical conductors and electromagnetic cable shielding, the electrical conductors electrically connected to the cable interconnect at a first end, and the electrical conductors and the cable shielding are electrically connected to a transducer connector at a second end, wherein the cable shielding is electrically connected to earth around via at least a shield surrounding the transducer connector;
wherein further included in the transducer housing is a thin electromagnetic shield, internal to the outer acoustic lens, and electrically connected to one of the internal metal shield and cable shielding such that all elements inside a boundary formed by the transducer housing and outer acoustic lens are substantially electromagnetically protected from external electromagnetic radiation, protected and flexibility of the transducer is maintained as required for effective operation.
-
-
27. An ultrasound imaging system comprising an electromagnetically protected ultrasound TEE probe, a display for displaying ultrasound images, a housing including a transducer connector including at least one connection for connecting to earth ground and a computer for processing electrical signals representative of received ultrasound echoes, wherein the ultrasound TEE probe comprises:
-
a probe housing including an imaging sensor, an outer acoustic lens, a cable interconnect and an internal metal shield which surrounds the sensor and cable interconnect; and
a cable including electrical conductors and electromagnetic cable shielding, the electrical conductors electrically connected to the cable interconnect at a first end, and the electrical conductors and the cable shielding are electrically connected to a transducer connector at a second end, wherein the cable shielding is electrically connected to earth around via at least a shield surrounding the transducer connector;
wherein the internal metal shield is electrically connected to the cable shielding such that all elements inside a boundary formed by the transducer housing and outer acoustic lens are substantially electromagnetically protected, protected and flexibility of the TEE probe, including any endoscopic portion, is maintained as required for effective operation. - View Dependent Claims (28)
-
Specification